National Perspectives

[snizave]

Most people seem to think that the Big XII champ will secure the 4th #1 seed, along with Tenn, Uconn and Duke. Personally, I find it interesting how so many people seem to be writing KSU off as an early round upset victim. I try to defend them sometimes on some boards, but i don't really put too much effort into it. If Texas or Tech win the Big XII, I will be rooting for them to make it far in the NCAAs. I assume the same is true for other fans if KSU wins the conference championship. I just think it's funny how some east coast fans think they have our whole conference figured out by wathing 2 or 3 games. Anyway, go Big XII!

Snizave

[ChipperF1]

"I just think it's funny how some east coast fans think they have our whole conference figured out by wathing 2 or 3 games.

For many, that is all they get to see up here, unless you have a satellite.

Most fans outside Big 12 country still believe the Big 12 is a Big Fraud, and there is credence for that opinion. The league has yet to succeed greatly at a national level, so the "experts" say. Despite our conference record this year and that fact that we have teams in the polls and holding their own, the respect isn't coming.

The only way that's coming is when Texas, Texas Tech, Kansas State or whoever walks into the poker game in Atlanta and walks out with all the chips.

ON KANSAS STATE: They have three excellent players, but having seen them play and having seen the best of the country, I don't see KSU quite on that par, their game at Stanford kind of proved that point. They are a good team, a very good team, but they also a team that on a off night can lose to an Enron Division team, and championship caliber teams don't do that.

This season, everybody's up for grabs. There isn't that much of a gap between the top 10-15 teams. It'll come down less to talent and more on execution, coaching, and what unheralded kids make their move and I think this is where the Big 12 has an advanatage. The league has top-notch coaches, and they each find ways develop kids who are considered "second-tier". Look at the different faces making an impact and the younger players making a sizable impact.

I said it at the beginning of the season, and I'm staying the course. A Big 12 team will win the national championship and shut up all the non-believers. That's the only way they'll be silenced. Except for those folks at the ESPN message board http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

[Jennifer]

Originally posted by ChipperF1:
ON KANSAS STATE: They have three excellent players,


Actually, by my count, they have 4 excellent players...can't forget Mahoney!!

[mred]

Originally posted by snizave:
Personally, I find it interesting how so many people seem to be writing KSU off as an early round upset victim.

Maybe they saw the game against ODU in the tournament last season. I was at that game, and it was ugly! That was not the KSU team I know, but there may be a lot of people (esp. UConn fans, since they were in that regional) who know KSU solely from that game.

[JohnHenry]

I'd say KSU's starting five is as good as any in the country, but after that it gets a little dicey. We say that yesterday and Wed. Without Koehn, the others are forced out of their more comfortable roles (somewhat), and they tend to struggle a bit more when all the pieces aren't in place.

That said, they have also shown character and resilience in Koehn's absence- witness Wecker's performance yesterday. Horrible day shooting, but she sucked it up and made the plays they needed in the last 6 minutes. Same for Ohlde - was quieted a bit by Baylor's inside D, but took advantage of any opportunity to contribute, especially in the 2nd half.

They were threatened by a tough team with a great coach on the road, and they answered the call. Now, whether they can do the same against a tam like Tech or Texas (in Dallas) remains to be seen, but they'll likely have Koehn back before they are threatened again, and this stretch of games without her can only make them tougher in March.

BTW, Jimi - i've been admiring their defensive intensity from the get-go. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

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[wbbcatfan]

I'm a long time lurker first time poster. I think it will be a very interesting post season. From past history following basketball for years I've noticed that the regular season does not have a lot to do with a teams success in post season tournaments. There are tournament teams and there are teams that aren't. The tournament hype and pressure of playing with very little rest on mostly neutral sites is a whole different environment than playing either in hostile environments or the friendly confines of your home court. The other thing that we tend to forget is that for the most part these kids are still very very young. That said what are K-States chances this year? We really have no idea at this point. What they have shown is great character, much more maturity than last year and talent that most teams just dream of. I've attended K-State Womens games for the last 8 years. From the first game I saw last year you could tell this team has a chemistry and work ethic that has never existed. Coach Patterson works very hard at developing the whole character of these kids not just their basketball skills. That is an intangible alone that will carry kids along way. Right now K-State already has more tournament experience than any other Big 12 team for this year. I'm sure the staff planned it that way. The other thing that I like so much about this team this year is that they are consistently finding ways to win. Good teams do that. Is their depth a concern? Not really. These kids have more heart than most teams with 15 players. No matter how far they go in post season I couldn't be more proud of a group of young ladies.

[Jimi]

Originally posted by wbbcatfan:
I'm a long time lurker first time poster. - No matter how far they go in post season I couldn't be more proud of a group of young ladies.

Welcome to the board wbbcatfan. Its always good to hear from another Kansas state WBB fan. I hope I haven't embarassed you too much while you were lurking.

I couldn't agree with your last sentence any more. Well said.

[snizave]

I have to agree with most everything that's been said here. I've decided I really shouldn't post after reading all about K-State on the Boneyard. Really, I think that K-State just hasn't been good for long enough to have people outside of the Big XII area convinced. I do the same to other teams. Last year, I was pretty skeptical of South Carolina, and they had a season very similar to ours. This year, I think that K-State has the potential to beat anyone. Yeah, they might exit the tourney early, but maybe Tennesee will too. Or maybe UCONN. Every team has weaknesses this year, and that's a good thing. I really have to stop reading the boneyard.

[HuskerFan86]

Since their loss at Arkansas, no one wants to talk about LSU, but I think they could also make a claim to one of the top 4 seeds.

If the Tigers beat Tennessee when they meet later this year, then LSU deserves to be seeded in the top 4.

Up to this point, I think there are two teams that have pretty much locked up #1 seeds in the NCAA tourney (Duke and UConn), with about 5-6 teams vying for the final two. The third #1 seed will likely go to the SEC champ. The fourth #1 seed could end up going to any of a number of teams. Texas Tech and KSU are certainly strong contenders, along with Stanford from the Pac 10, and possibly the SEC runner-up.

If I were on the selection committee and the NCAA tournament was tommorrow, my top eight seeds would look like this:

#1seeds: UConn, Duke, Tennessee, LSU

#2 seeds: Stanford, K State, Texas Tech, North Carolina


I have a feeling this March is going to be a lot more interesting than in years past because of the great parity in WBB throughout the country.